Blasting stick and process of making the same



' Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR S. ONEIL AND ALFON S G. SCHURICHT, OF ALTON, ILLmOIS, ASSIGNORS TO W'ESTERN CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, A GORPORATION OF DELAWARE BLAS'IING STICK AND PROCESS OF MAKING TEE SAME No Drawing. Original application filed March 12, 1925, Serial No. 15,120. Divided and this application filed October 28, 1926. Serial No. 144,916.

This invention relates to explosives and more particularly toexplosives employing a tetra-nitro-anilin. This application is a division of application Serial Number 15,120,

6 filed March 12, 1925.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide blasting explosive stick containing a tetra-nitro-anilin mixed with the other in gredients thereof.

Further objects will appear from the detail description in which an illustrative embodiment of this invention will be described; it is, however, to be understood that the invention is susceptible of various embodiments.

In accordance with this invention a small percentage of the tetra-nitro-anilin is intimately mixed with a larger percentage of a less sensitive or cheaper nitro-hydrocarbon, and this is preferably accomplished by dissolving the brisant tetra-nitro-anilin in the less sensitive compound. Suitable solvents of tetra-nitro-anilin adapted for this purpose are aromatic nitro-compounds, of which tri-nitro-toluene, di-nitro-toluene, tri-nitrobenzene, di-nitro-benzene, etc., as well as picric acid are examples. Furthermore mixtures of nitro-hydrocarbons may be used; these mixtures are of special advantage when the nitro-h drocarbons have high melting points, for y using mixtures of such compounds in molecular proportions the melting points are depressed. Suitable mixtures, in molecular proportions, are: tri-nitro-toluene and tri-nitro-benzene, tri-nitro-toluene and di-nitro-benzene, tri-nitro-toluene and picric acid, etc. Whether a single nitro-hydrocarbon or mixtures of nitro-hydrocarbons are used, the tetra-nitro-anilin is dissolved in the molten solvent. This can be accomplished by heating the tetra-nitro-anilin and the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon, in the desired proportions, in a suitable container until the solution of the tetra-nitro-anilin in the nitro-hydrocarbon is complete; solution takes place at a temperature from 85 C.86 C. The proportions may be 2%20% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and 98%-80% of the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon.

In accordance with this invention, a tetranitro-anilin forms one of the ingredients of a blasting stick. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention the other ingredients are nitro-cellulose while the tetra-nitroanilin is preferably a small percentage of a mixture or solution in which the larger percentage is a less sensitive hydrocarbon as previously described. The nitro-cellulose may be in the form of smokeless powder, such as' left over from the war period, and which is a dense colloid; it may, however, be in the form of bulk smokeless powder or even gun cotton. Where, for instance, military ammunition is used as a base, thepowder is ground to the desired state, and even powder dust may be used.

Generally stated, the nitro-cellulose has intimately mixed therewith a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon as heretofore described. The mixture may either be a simple mechanical one or a par tial or more complete colloid of the ingredients as hereinafter described. Furthermore the percentage of the tetra-nitro-anilin can be made small as compared to the percentage of the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon and even the nitro-cellulose.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention the three ingredients, namely the tetra-nitro-anilin, the less sensitive nitrocompound, such as tri-nitro-toluene, and the nitro-cellulose, such as smokeless powder, are ground to the desired degree of granulation, say to pass an 80 mesh screen. They are then mixed in the desired proportions. The proportions may be 40%-60% of nitro-cellulose and %-40% of the mixture of a tetranitro-anilin and a less sensitive nitro-hydro carbon as heretofore described.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention the tetranitro-anilin is dissolved in the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon in the manner and using the proportions heretofore described. The solution after cooling is then ground and screened to the proper size and mixed with the ground and screened nitro cellulose.

In accordance with still another embodiment of this invention the tetra-nitro-anilin and the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon, such as tri-nitro-toluene, in the desired proportions, arehcated in a suitable container at a temperature and for a period sufiicient until the solution of the tetra-nitroanilin in the tri-nitro-toluene is complete. Such solution takes place between 85 and 86 degrees centigrade. \Vhen solution is complete the nitrocellulose, such as smokeless powder, is slowly added with continued stirring until the desired proportions are obtained. There will be formed a colloidal solution of the nitrocellulose in the tetra-nitro-anilin tri-nitrotoluene solution. As soon as the mixture is sufliciently gelatinized it is spread out and allowed to cool; when cool, the gelatinized mixture or colloid is ground in a suitable mill to the desired granulation, which usually is 60-80 mesh.

Explosive mixtures of nitro-cellulose and tetra-nitro-anilin together with a less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon can be made by using nitrated cotton in place of dense colloided nitro-cellulose. The nitrated cotton is ground and added to the molten solution of tetranitro-anilin in, for instance, tri-nitro-toluene as heretofore described when using dense colloided nitro-cellulose. The tetra-nitro-anilin and tri-nitro-toluene solution should, however, be heated slightly above its melting point and the nitrated cotton added and stirred in the hot solution until it is completely gelatinized or colloided. The mixture is then allowed to cool and solidify, when it is ground and screened. The same proportions may be used as when using dense colloidal nitro-cellulose.

Such a nitro-cellulose mixture containing a small percentage of tetra-nitro-anilin together with a less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon is suitable for forming a dynamite stick, and either a mechanical mixture or the colloided or gelatinized mixture may be employed. The proportions may be as heretofore described, namely, 40%60% nitro-cellulose and 60%40% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon, the latter being in the proportion of 2%-20% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and 98 %80% of the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon; accordingly the percentage of tetra-nitro-anilin in the dynamite stick will be between l%12%. The mixture may be either used alone or with other and usual ingredients of dynamite. When this active agent is used with the usual ingredients of dynamite, it may partially or wholly replace one or more of the active ingredients thereof. The wholly or partially replacing active agent may in such a case'b' a mixture of nitro-cellulose and tetra-nitroanilin together with a less sensitive nitrohydrocarbon in the proportions described; or this active agent may be a mixture of tetranitro-anilin together with the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon in the proportions described; or it may be a tetra-nitro-anilin in suitable proportions. Of course when all other active agents of the dynamite are not replaced, so that one or more of them remain together with the replacing agent containin the tetra-nitro-anili'n, then the proportions o the latter may be correspondingly decreased. In whatever manner the ingredients are com pounded, they may be formed into sticks in the usual manner as practiced in the art of making dynamite.

There is thus provided an explosive which is suitable for use as a blasting explosive or as a dynamite stick. The mixture of nitrocellulose, a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon forms a satisfactory explosive for blasting purposes. It is very inert chemically. It is non-hygroscopic and moisture has no effect on it at all at ordinary temperatures. It is also very stable as well as cheap since ground powder is now 35 cheap and even powder dust can be used.

It is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A blasting stick containing a substantial proportion of nitro-cellulose and 1%- 12% of a tetra-nitro-anilin.

2. A blasting stick containing a substantial proportion of ground smokeless powder sensitized by 1%12% of a tetra-nitroanilin.

3. The process of making blasting sticks comprising, intimately mixlng with a sub stantial proportion of nitro-cellulose 1%- 12% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and forming the mixture into sticks.

4. A blasting stick containing a substantial proportion of nitro-cellulose, 1%-12% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive aromatic nitro-compound.

5. A blasting stick containing a substantial proportion of ground smokeless powder sensitized by 1%-12% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive aromatic nitro-compound.

6. The process of making blasting sticks comprising, intimately mixing with a substantial proportion of nitro-cellulose 1% 12% of a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive aromatic nitro-compound and forming the mixture into sticks.

In testimony whereof we have this 13th day of October, 1926, ailixed our signatures.

ARTHUR S. ONEIL. ALFONS G. SCHURICHT. 

